Connection between a rod and a diaphragm



April! 30, 1935. c. H. DAVIS. JR

CONNECTION BETWEEN A ROD AND A DIAPHRAGM Filed April 21, 1932 PatentedApr. 30, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONNECTION BETWEEN A ROD AND A DIAPHRAGMCharles B. Davis, Jr., deceased, late of Anderson,

Ind.-, by John T. Anderson, Ind., to General Motors 00 a corporation ofDela Fitzsimmons, administrator, assignor, by mesne assignments,rporation, Detroit, Mich., ware Application April 21, 1932, Serial No.606,661

1 Claim.

This inventionv relates to devices controlled by fluid pressure and moreparticularly to devices employing a flexible diaphragm.

It is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide a simplemeans for attaching to the diaphragm a wire or rod which transmitsmotion from the diaphragm to the part to be controlled.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a fluid pressure controlled deviceembodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof drawn twice the sizeshown in Fig. 1.,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a washer included in this structure. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig 3. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing amodified form of the" invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a washer included in the construction shown inFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 parts 20 and 2| are pressed metal cup-shaped membersbetween theflanges 22 and 23 of which the edges of a flexible diaphragm24 are clamped. The flange 22 has a portion 25 bent around the flange 23to secure the parts permanently in position. The diaphragm 24 ispreferably formed by super-posedlayers of cloth coated with a substancewhich makes the cloth substantially air tight. varnished airplane linenhas been found to be satisfactory. The layers of cloth are each providedbefore assembling witha small hole punched through the center, the holebeing smaller than the wire .or rod 30 which is to be attached to thediaphragm. Before assembling the diaphragm with the casing members 20and 2| the diaphragm 24 'is assembled together with washers 3| andwashers 32 with the rod 30. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the washers 3|are cup-shaped, that is provided with flanges which extend away from thediaphragm so that the diaphragm will not be cut by'the edges of thewashers during the bending of the diaphragm. The washers 3| are clampedagainst the diaphragm 24 by the washers 32 which are so constructed asto be automatically retained upon slits 35 each extending from a hole 34to a center I hole 33 thereby providing the washer with a plurality offingers 36 each bendable about a line joining two of the holes 34 suchas the lines a::c shown in Fig. 3 and each having an arcuate inner end31 adapted to bite into the surface of the .wire or rod 30. When thewashers 32 are forced upon the rod 30 the fingers 36 are caused tospread apart as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The fingers yield to permitsliding the washers along the rod to the diaphragm 24 but these fingersresist movement of the washers 32 away from the diaphragm due to thefact that the fingers 36 bite into the rod 30. Since the cloth 24 issomewhat compressible, it is apparent that the washers 32 can be forcedagainst the Washers 3| and the washers 3| against the diaphragm 24 withpressure causing the cloth to be compressed slightly so that the fingers36 may hold the washers 32 against the washer 3| and the latter againstthe diaphragm 24 with pressure suflicient to keep the material of thediaphragm 24 to seal the hole through which the wire 30 extends.Although the cloth 24 may theoretically spring back after clampingpressures against the washer 32 are removed from the outside, the springfingers 36 will bite into the rod 30 before any appreciable spring backof the cloth 24 can take place.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the washers 40 having cup-flanges 4| areprovided. .Otherwise, the washers 40 are similar to the washers 32.

' The washers 3| are omitted and the cup flanges 4| bear against thediaphragm cloth 24. Before the washers 40 are placed in position aquantity of sealing compound indicated at 42 is placed on each side ofthe diaphragm 24. The forcing of the Washers 4!] against the diaphragm24 causes this sealing compound to flow-in the hole in the diaphragm 24through which the wire 30 extends, thereby forming a tight joint andsealing the diaphragm.

The sheet of spring steel from which the washers 32 or 40 are stamped islocated with respect tothe punches and type so that the grain of thesteel is parallel to a line 32.'L'.

. Before'assembling the housing member 2| with the diaphragm 24, thehousing member 2| is provided with an internally threaded bushing 50 andthrough which the coupling 5| may be screwed the coupling 5| provides atapped hole 52 attachable to a pipe and a hole 53 communieating with theinterior of the bushing and housing member 2|. A spring 54 is locatedbetween the coupling 5| and a washer 32 and this spring is held inposition by a tubular member 55 formed from sheet material and having anapertured wall 56 receiving an end of the rod 30 and with flange 51against which the left hand end of the spring 54 presses. The sleeve 55provides means for locking the spring 54 centrally with respect to thebushing 50 and its right hand end wall 56 provides a stop engageablewith the i-adjacent washer 32 for the purpose of limiting motion'iof thediaphragm 24 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1.

-While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is .to be understood thatother forms m kht be adopted, all coming within the scope or the claimwhich follows.

What is claimed is as follows:

In a device of the character described, a diaphragm, a rod for actuatingthe diaphragm passing through the diaphragm, and means for securing therod to the diaphragm and including a pair of normally plane clampingdiscs through which the rod passes and between which the diaphragm islocated, each or said discs having a plurality of resilient fingers,each finger extending from a region near the periphery of the disctoward the center and each finger being of such length that the passingof the rod through a disc causes its fingers to be bent away from thenormal plane of the disc, each finger terminating in a portion adaptedto bite into the rod, and.

quantities of plastic sealing material located between the discs andthediaphragm and surrounding the rod.

' JOHN T. FI'IZSIMMONS, 1 Administrator of the 'Estate of Charles H.Davis,

Jr., Deceased.

